Government agencies may decide the future of Portland flights at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport, but at least one South Coast resident is asking to speak to them before they make decisions.

“It would be really advantageous to call for a public hearing with the Department of Transportation, where the people could say how they feel,” said Julia Ladden of Coos Bay.

That’s not likely to happen.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has never held a public hearing on an essential air service case, said department spokesman Bill Moseley. At least, he can’t remember one. The department is in the process of determining whether a Portland connection should be considered “essential” to ensure a more stable economy and community safety.

“We use written filings, written comments,” Moseley said this morning in a phone interview. “Under statute, we are required to take the opinions of local government, but we will consider comments.”

Ladden was one of the first to submit a comment on the DOT Web site, about Horizon Air’s application to terminate air service at the North Bend airport.

“We have a lot of retirees who are immobile,” Ladden said in a phone interview Tuesday. “We need medical care. Unless you’re airlifted, there will be no way out.”

Ladden said she is just a concerned citizen who doesn’t want to drive 21⁄2 hours to the Eugene airport to fly north.

“I wish I could add something, but the truth is, same as everyone else, we are stranded,” she said.

By this morning, 19 comments were posted on DOT’s Web site, 17 of them since last weekend. These comments from business owners, medical personnel and community members, say the loss would be a detriment to families and businesses wanting to stay connected. It would impact the safety and financial well-being of the community.

Moseley said the number of comments varies with each case the DOT considers, but those on the Horizon Air case aren’t unusual.

Marilyn Williams, of Bandon, wrote that she is taking care of two elderly parents and needs occasional help from other family members.

“Getting family here to help care for elderly relatives becomes a daunting task,” Williams said. “... Sending elderly relatives to visit, getting to Portland for more advanced health care, ... please reconsider allowing this abandonment of so many loyal South Coast flyers.”

The comments appeared on the Web site following an editorial, on July 29, and a story, on July 23, in The World. In addition, nine local agencies and organizations filed comments by the official July 17 deadline. However, DOT has agreed to accept comments until a decision is made.

Horizon has provided Portland flights since 1982, and, if its application is upheld and no other governmental action taken, the final northbound flight will take off Oct. 11. The flights have been required as part of the DOT’s essential air service program up until now. It guarantees sufficient air service at smaller airports that might not otherwise prove profitable. Horizon began trying to end the essential air service contract when SkyWest Airlines began offering flights between North Bend and San Francisco in early July. The airline argues in its application, that the San Francisco flights would satisfy the essential air service requirement.

Airport officials have tried since June to convince Horizon to remain. They also went after SkyWest, seeing if it would pick up the service. Both to no avail.

But talks are ongoing at the state level.

“We are having discussions with the regional air carriers,” said Oregon Department of Aviation Director Daniel Clem on Tuesday.

But that’s all he said he could say for now.